Three new species of Eimeria from Bolivian marsupials

Faecal samples collected from 300 Bolivian marsupials (Didelphimorphia:Didelphidae) between 1984 and 1993 were examined for coccidian parasites. Sporulated oocystswere present in the faeces of 50 (17%) marsupials representing 11 genera and 22 species. Threenew species of Eimeria are described and named from six host species. One speciesoccurred in Marmosops dorothea, Monodelphis domestica and Thylamysvenustus, another in Micoureus constantiae constantiae and Micoureusconstantiae budini and a third in Marmosops dorothea. A discriminant analysisperformed on five quantitative oocyst measurements revealed similarities between the first andthird Eimeria species because of similar sizes and shapes of the oocysts, whereas thesecond Eimeria species was structurally discrete. The Eimeria that infectsmultiple hosts may be a common widespread species. Future surveys are advised for a thoroughassessment of the coccidian biodiversity within Bolivian marsupials. Copyright (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V.